Bill > HB1300

This bill consolidates multiple professional licensing accounts into a single business and professions account in the state treasury, expanding the existing account to include receipts from licensing, registration, certification, renewal, examination, and civil penalty fees for several professional fields such as architects, auctioneers, cosmetologists, embalmers, landscape architects, real estate appraisers, court reporters, private investigators, and others. The bill specifically repeals several existing dedicated accounts for these professions, including the architects' license account, funeral and cemetery account, landscape architects' license account, real estate appraiser commission account, geologists' account, and appraisal management company account. Any remaining balances in these accounts as of December 31, 2025, will be transferred to the business and professions account by February 28, 2026. The purpose of this consolidation appears to be administrative efficiency, allowing the Department of Licensing to manage these various professional licensing activities through a single account, with the funds to be used only for expenses related to licensing activities and requiring biennial budget requests based on anticipated administrative costs. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, providing a transition period for implementing these changes.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1300&Year=2025&Initiative=false